Tool for flash welding machines



May 15, 1933. wl F. HEINEMAN ET A1. 1,909,402

TOOL FOR FLASH WELDING MACHINES Filed Nov. 17, 1930 I N VEN TOR. arrenEhemerrmn l Y and SvenMa/ke 30%.

A TTORNEY.

Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENTv OFFICE WARREN F. HEIN EMANOF SHOREWOOD, AND SVEN MALKE, 0F MILWAUKEE, W'ISCON- SIN, CORPORATION 0FNEW YORK `ASSIGNORS TO A. O. SMITH CORPORATION. 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN,A

TOOL FOR FLASH WELDING MACHINES Application iled November 17, 1930.Serial No. 498,234.

The invention relates to a tool to be used inconjunction with a machinefor flash welding longitudinal seams in tubular articles such as isdisclosed in the copending applications of Andreu et al., Serial N o.435,090, liled March 12, 1930, and of N ilson et al., Serial No.469,462,filed July 21, 1930.

More particularly, the invention is directed to a tool for cleaning theelectrodes and for removing deposit from the flash receiving troughdisposed within the arbor.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top view of the tool.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing certainelements of the welding machine diagrammatically.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the tool being moved through thewelding machine, partly shown.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l designates generally a weldingmachine having a pair of electrodes 2 and 3 adapted to be movedrelatively toward and away from each other in a manner, not shown, toestablish and maintain an electric are between the same and thereby heatthe edges to a welding temperature after which the edges are forcedtogether to complete the weld. The

numeral 4 indicates a support for the blank which is vertically movableto raise the blank into pressure contact with the electro-des 2 and 3.Disposed within the blank is an arbor 5 having a plurality of pairs ofop ositely disposed pivotal arms 6 and 7 with en s thereof ada ted toengage the inner wall of the blank irectly beneath the electrodes and tomaintain an effective pressure contact between the electrodes and thewall of the blank.

Disposed between the arms 6 and 7 is a trough 8 which is adapted toreceive the metal flashed downwardly from the edges during the weldingoperation.

For a complete description of the construction and operation of thistype'of welding machine, reference is made to the abovementionedcopending applications.

The present invention is directed to a tool for cleaning the contacts 9and 10 and the faces 11 and 12 of-the electrodes and to also remove themetal flash from the trough 8.

` spaced longitudinally extending members 14 and 15 connected togetherat the ends therevof by cross members 16 and 17. Projecting upwardlyfrom the corners of the frame 13 and suitably secured thereto, arebearing plates 18 which are adapted to engage the contact faces 9 and 10of the electrodes 2 and 3. The bearing plates 18 preferably are formedof liber or suitable soft material which will not scratch or mar thefacesk of the electrode contacts. A plurality of shims 19 are providedbetween the bearing plates 18 and the frame member 13 so that thevertical position of the bearing plates may be readily adjusted.

The frame is provided with a plate 20 extending transversely across thefront end thereof, (left side of Figs. 1 and 3) which is adapted to abutagainst the welded blank and the opposite end of the frame is providedwith a transverse bar 21 against which the blank being inserted into themachine is adapted to abut.

The plate 21 is provided with a rearwardly extending horn 22 over whichthe blank being inserted is adapted to ride and prevent tilting of thetool during its traverse through the machine.V

Pivotally connected to the frame 13 at the front end thereof by means ofa pin 23 is a longitudinally extending bracket 24 which projectsupwardly from the frame between the electrodes 2 and 3. The bracket 24is provided with a plurality of oppositely disposed brushes 25 and 26,preferably arranged obliquely to the direction of travel and which areadapted to engage the faces 11 and 12 of the electrodes and to removeany foreign material adhering thereto.

The rear end of the bracket 24 is provided,

center the brushes 25 and 26 between the electrodes.

The frame 13 is further provided with a plurality of rollers 31journaled thereto by means of pins 32 which are adapted to engagesuitable rails 33 for returning the tool from the exit end of themachine to the feed end thereof after its traverse through the weldingmachine.

Extendin transversely of the frame 13 and secure at the opposite endsthereof to the longitudinal members 14 and 15 is a rod 34 which forms ahandle which may be asped by the operator to remove the tool gom thewelding machine. The rod 34 preferably extends outwardly from the sidesof the longitudinal members 14 and 15 to form lugs 35 which may beengaged by a suitable conveyor chain, not shown, for returning the toolto the feed end of the machine.

The longitudinal members 14 and 15 of the frame 13 are provided withhorizontal flanges 36 and 37 which are adapted to be supported uponrails 38 and 39 on the opposite ends of the welding machine. The bottomof the frame 13 has secured thereto spaced flanges 40 and 41 of a trough42. The rear end of the trough 42 projects downwardly into engagementwith the bottom of the trough 8 of the arbor as at 43 and operates as ascoop to receive the metal flash within the arbor trough. The rear endof the trough is closed by means of a plate 44.

In the type of welding machine disclosed in the copending applications,the welded blank is preferably removed from the machine by the insertionof the next succeeding blank. The flash removing tool herein disclosedis adapted to be disposed between the incoming and outgoin blank and tobe pushed through the mac ine by the incoming blank. Other suitablemethods of moving the tool through the machine may be employed, ifdesired. The tool is supported in roper position during its traversethrough t e machine by the pivotal arms 6 and 7 of the arbor 5 which areadapted to engage the flanges 40 and 41 disposed on opposite sides ofthe trough 42. The tool is supported in proper position for insertioninto the Welding machine by rails 38 disposed at the feed end of themachine where it is engaged by the blank being inserted into the machineand is supported at the exit end of the machine by rails 39 after itsmovement through the machine.

As before mentioned, the tool is provided with rollers 31 adapted toengage suitable rails 33 for returning the tool to the feed end of themachine where it is again accessible for use. Any suitable means may beprovided for returning the tool.

Having thus described the nature of the invention, it is understood thatvarious modifications may be made within the scope of the accompanyingclaims.

We claim:

1. A tool for usek in conjunction with a flash weldin machine havingelectrodes and a flash rece1ving trough beneath said electrodes,comprising a frame, members carried by said frame and disposed to brushsaid electrodes when the tool is passed through the machine, and meansdepending from said frame for removing the metal flash in said troughsimultaneously with said brushing operation.

2. A tool for use in conjunction with a flash welding machine havingelectrodes and a flash receiving trough beneath said electrodes,comprising a frame, brush members movably connected to said framedisposed to brush said electrodes when the tool is passed through themachine, resilient means tending to maintain said brush members inpredetermined position relative to said frame, and means carried by saidframe for removing the metal flash in said trough simultaneously withsaid brushing operation.

3. A tool for use in a flash welding machine having electrodes and aflash reiving trough beneath said electrodes, comprising a frame adaptedto be engaged by an incoming work piece to move it through the machine,a longitudinally extending bracket having one end thereof pivotallyconnected to said frame, resilient means for positioning the oppositeend of said bracket, brushes connected to said bracket and disposed toengage adjacent faces of said electrodes, members secured to said frameand disposed to wipe the contact faces of said electrodes, and meansdepending from said frame for removing metal flash from,

said trough when the tool is passed through the weldin machine.

. 4. A too for use in connection with a welding machine of the classdescribed having welding electrodes, said tool comprisin a frame, alongitudinally extending brac et having one end thereof pivotallconnected to said frame, means for yieldablyy positioning the oppositeend of said bracket, and obliquely disposed brushes secured to saidbracket in position to engage adjacent faces of the weldmg electrodeswhen the tool is passed through the machine.

5. A tool for use in conjunction with a flash welding machine havingelectrodes and a flash receiving trough, said tool comprising a bodymember adapted to be passed through the machine, a ,scoop depending fromthe bodv member to remove the flash from the flash receiving trough, anda brush assembly carried on the body member in position to removedeposit from the welding machine electrodes; and means to hold the toolbetween the end of an outgoing pipe section and the end of an incomingblank to be welded whereb the tool is traveled through the welding macline during the loading and unloading thereof.

6. A tool for cleaning the electrodes of a momo@ Hash vvelding machine,comprising a frame .adapted to pass through the machine longitudinallyof the electrodes, means on the frame for engaging the front edge of anincoming Work piece, and cleaning elements disposed on the frame inposition to clean the electrodes as the frame is moved through themachine.

7. A tool for cleaning a machine for Hash welding a long seam in a Workpiece, said tool 'being adapted to be moved through the machine by anincoming Work piece in the direction parallel to the seam to be Welded,coinprising a fra-me, means on the frame for engaging a Work piece, andcleaning elements carried by the tool in position to engage and cleanfrom the machine accumulations of Hash from revious Welding operations.

8. E tool for cleaning Hash from the operating portions of a HashWelding machine having Welding electrodes and a Hash receiving trough,said tool being adapted to pass through the machine between an incomingand an outgoing Work piece, comprising a body member, means on the bodymember for engaging work pieces, a scoop depending from the body memberto remove Hash from the Hash receiving trough, and brushes carried bythe body member in position to brush the Welding electrodes.

In Witness Whereor` We have hereunto subscribed our names at Milwaukee,Wisconsin, this 15th day of November, 1930.

WARREN F. HEINEMAN. SVEN MALKE.

